यावत्यश्चैव तारास्ताः शिशुमाराश्रिता दिवि
All the stars that are situated in the sky upon the constellation of Śiśumāra,
साकारः शिशुमारश्च विज्ञेयः प्रविभागशः
Śiśumāra, with its form, should be understood in its various divisions.
यज्ञः परस्तु विज्ञेयो धर्मो मर्द्धानमाश्रितः
Yajña is to be known as the highest, and Dharma is established upon its head.
वरुणश्चार्यमा चैव पश्चिमे तस्य सक्थिनी
Varuṇa and Aryaman are located at its western thighs.
पुच्छे ऽग्निश्च महेन्द्रश्च मारीचः कश्यपो ध्रुवः
At the tail are Agni, Mahendra, Marīca, Kaśyapa, and Dhruva.
नक्षत्रचन्द्रमूर्याश्च ग्रहास्तारागणैः सह
The lunar mansions, the Moon, and the planets, together with the hosts of stars,
ध्रुवेणाधिष्ठिताश्चैव ध्रुवमेव प्रदक्षिणम्
Are established by Dhruva, and they all revolve around Dhruva.
अग्नीन्द्रकश्यपानां तु चरमो ऽसौ ध्रुवः स्मृतः
Among Agni, Indra, and Kaśyapa, Dhruva is regarded as the last.
मेरुमालोकयत्येष पर्यन्ते हि प्रदक्षिणम्
He observes Meru, always moving in a circle at its boundary.
पप्रच्छुरुत्तरं भूयस्तदा ते रोमहर्षणम्
Then they asked further questions of Romaharṣaṇa.
कथं देवगृहाणि स्युः कथं ज्योतींषिवर्णय
How do the abodes of the gods exist? How are the luminaries described?
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां तदा सूतः समाहितः
Having heard their words, the Sūta, attentive, replied.
अस्मिन्नर्थे माहाप्राज्ञैर्यदुक्तं ज्ञानबुद्धिभिः
Concerning this matter, what has been spoken by the great sages, endowed with knowledge and wisdom,
यथा देवगृहाणीह सूर्यचन्द्रग्रहाः स्मृताः
As the abodes of the gods here are remembered as the Sun, Moon, and planets,
दिव्यस्य भौतिकस्याग्नेरब्योनेः पार्थि वस्य तु
Of the divine, material, fire, atmospheric, and earthly,
अव्याकृतमिदं त्वासीन्नैशेन तमसावृतम्
This was unmanifest, covered by the darkness of night.
स्वयंभूर्भगवांस्तत्र लोकतन्त्रार्थसाधकः
There, the self-born Lord, accomplishing the purpose of the world order,
सो ऽग्निं दृष्ट्वाथ लोकादौ पृथिवीजलसंश्रितम्
He, seeing fire at the beginning of the world, situated in earth and water,
पवनो यस्तु लोके ऽस्मिन्पार्थिवः सो ऽग्निरुच्यते
The wind that exists in this world, O King, is said to be fire.
वैद्युतो ऽब्जस्तु विज्ञेयस्तेषां वक्ष्ये ऽथ लक्षमम्
The electric and aquatic (forms) should be understood; now I shall describe their characteristics.
तस्मादपः पिबन्सूर्यो गोभिर्दीप्यत्यसौ दिवि
Therefore, the sun drinks up the waters and shines in the sky with rays.
मानवा नां च कुक्षिस्थो नाद्भिः शास्यति पावकः
The fire that dwells in the stomachs of men is sustained by water.
किञ्चिदप्सु मतं तेजः किञ्चिद्दृष्टमबिं धनम्
Some brilliance is considered to be in the waters, and some is seen in the clouds.
अर्चिष्मान्पवमानो ऽग्निर्निष्प्रभो जाठरः स्मृतः
The wind-blown fire is radiant, while the fire in the stomach is said to be without luster.
प्रभा सौरी तु पादेन ह्यस्तं याति देवाकरे
The solar radiance, with its foot, goes to set in the abode of the gods.
उद्यन्तं च पुनः सूर्यमौष्णमयमाग्नेयमाविशत्
And again, when the sun rises, the fiery heat enters it.
प्राकाश्यं च तथौष्ण्यं च सौराग्नेये तु तेजसी
Brightness and heat are the energies of the sun and fire.
उत्तरे चैव भूम्यर्द्धे तथा ह्यग्निश्च दक्षिणे
In the northern half of the earth is the sun, and likewise, fire is in the southern.
तस्मात्तप्ता भवन्त्यापो दिवारत्रिप्रवेशनात्
Therefore, the waters become heated by the entry of day and night.
तस्मान्नक्तं पुनः शुक्ला आपो ऽदृश्यन्त भास्वराः
Therefore, at night, the waters again appear bright and shining.